Inhalation device

ABSTRACT

An inhalation device ( 10 ) for use with an aerosol container comprises a housing ( 11 ) for receiving an aerosol container ( 12 ) and a spacer member ( 13 ) having a mouthpiece ( 14 ) defining an outlet ( 15 ) through which a user can inhale. The housing and the spacer member are attached together so as to be movable with respect to each other between an inoperative position in which the housing is received within the spacer member and an operative position in which the housing is withdrawn from the spacer member and oriented at a substantial angle thereto. The device further comprises a dispensing member ( 16 ) for receiving material to be dispensed from the container and delivering it into the spacer member. The dispensing member ( 16 ) is located in the housing and supported spaced from the walls thereof by a plurality of spaced ribs ( 19 ). The housing includes a forwardly extending projection ( 25 ) shaped so as to be received by the mouthpiece member in the inoperative condition so that the projection acts as a closure member to close the outlet ( 15 ).

This invention relates to an inhalation device for use in enablingmaterial in aerosol form to be dispensed from a container and inhaled bya user.

Inhalers are well-known in medicine for the treatment or alleviation ofthe symptoms of respiratory complaints such as asthma. One type ofconventional inhaler comprises a housing which receives a container ofmedicament and a spacer member into which the medicament is dispensedand from which it is inhaled by the user through a mouthpiece opening.The medicament enters the spacer member via a nozzle so that it isdispersed into a fine spray before being inhaled. Such a device has aninoperative condition in which the housing enclosing the container isreceived within the spacer member and an operative condition in whichthe housing is withdrawn from the spacer member and is pivoted so as tobe positioned at an angle to it, typically in the region of 90°.Examples of such devices are described in WO92/20391-A1, EP 0 009 667and U.S. Pat. No. 3,994,421.

Existing spacer inhalers of this type are relatively complexconstructions. For example, in order to achieve the range of movementbetween the operative and inoperative positions, conventional inhalerscomprise an extra part known as the saddle which is slidably receivedwithin the spacer member and to which the housing is pivotally attached.

The present invention aims to provide a simplified design which iseasier and cheaper to produce whilst providing improved operation.

In one aspect of the present invention there is provided an inhalationdevice for use with an aerosol container, the device comprising ahousing for receiving an aerosol container and a spacer member definingan outlet through which a user can inhale, the housing and the spacermember being attached together so as to be movable with respect to eachother between an inoperative position in which the housing is receivedwithin the spacer member and an operative position in which the housingis withdrawn from the spacer member and oriented at a substantial anglethereto, the device further comprising a dispensing member for receivingmaterial to be dispensed from said aerosol container and delivering saidmaterial into the spacer member, wherein the dispensing member islocated in said housing and is supported spaced from the walls thereofby a plurality of spaced ribs.

This configuration provides improved support for the dispensing memberwhilst allowing air flow through the housing and into the spacer member,which improves operation as the user inhales. Manufacture of the

Preferably, the ribs which support the dispensing member are not equallyspaced.

In a preferred embodiment, four ribs are present which may be arrangedsymmetrically in two pairs.

In a second aspect of the present invention there is provided aninhalation device for use with an aerosol container, the devicecomprising a housing for receiving an aerosol container and a spacermember defining an outlet through which a user can inhale, the housingand spacer member being attached together so as to be movable withrespect to each other between an inoperative position which the housingis received within the spacer member and an operative position in whichthe housing is withdrawn from the spacer member and oriented at asubstantial angle thereto, the device further comprising a dispensingmember for receiving material to be dispensed from said aerosolcontainer and delivering it into said spacer member, wherein said spacermember further comprises a forwardly extending mouth piece memberdefining the outlet and the housing further comprises a forwardlyextending projection, shaped so as to be received by said mouthpiecemember in the inoperative position in order to close the outlet.

In this way, a separate cap member as used in conventional spacerinhalers to close the outlet in the inoperative position is notrequired.

Conveniently, the forwardly extending projection and the spacer memberare adapted to co-operate with one another in the operative condition inorder to retain the housing at a predetermined angle relative to thespacer member.

Preferably, this is achieved by providing the projection and the spacermember with co-operating surfaces which are brought into frictionalengagement as the device is moved from the inoperative to the operativecondition.

The invention will now be described in detail, by way of example only,with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective exploded view of a first embodiment of aninhalation device in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the inhalation device of FIG. 1 in theinoperative position;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the proximal end of the body portion ofthe device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the inhalation device of FIG. 1 in theinoperative position;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the inhalation device in the operativeposition;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the housing of an inhalation device inaccordance with a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a spacer member of an inhalation devicein accordance with the second embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the housing and spacer member of FIGS. 6and 7 connected together in the operative position.

An inhalation device 10 in accordance with a first embodiment of thepresent invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 5. It comprises asubstantially tubular housing 11 which is elliptical in cross-sectionand which is open at its distal end 11 b for receiving a conventionalcontainer 12 of medicament.

The housing 11 is pivotally connected at its proximal end 11 a to asubstantially tubular spacer member 13 which also has an ellipticalcross-section which is larger than that of the housing 11. At itsproximal end 13 a, the spacer member 13 is formed with a mouthpiecemember 14 which defines an outlet 15 through which a user may inhalemedicament dispensed from the container 12.

The housing 11 and spacer member 13 are preferably made from mouldedplastics material.

The inhalation device 10 can be moved between an inoperative positionillustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4 and an operative position illustrated inFIG. 5. In the inoperative position, the housing 11 is received withinthe spacer member 13. In the operative position, the housing 11 iswithdrawn from the spacer member 13, pivoted through a substantialangle, e.g in the range of 90° to 105°, and locked in that position.

In order to lock the housing 11 and spacer member 13 in the operativeposition, the housing is provided with a slot or recess 26 adjacent itsproximal edge which is engaged by a locking tab 27 projecting distallyfrom the adjacent edge of the spacer member 13.

The aerosol container 12 received in the housing 11 is provided with aconventional dispensing head 12 a which is received by a dispensingmember located in the proximal end of the housing 11. The dispensingmember comprises a nozzle block 16 which defines a passage 17 whichreceives medicament dispensed from the container 12. The passage 17communicates with a nozzle 18 also defined by the nozzle block 16 butwhich has its axis at a substantial angle, for example in the range of90° to 105°, to that of the passage 17.

In the operative position of the device 10 as shown in FIG. 5 the nozzle18 is axially aligned with the spacer member 13. When the end of thecontainer 12 is depressed by a user through the open distal end 11 b ofthe housing 11, medicament is dispensed into the passage 17 andtransmitted via the nozzle 18 as a fine spray into the spacer member 13from which it is inhaled by the user through the outlet 15.

In conventional inhalers, the nozzle block is suspended from the wall ofthe housing by means of a single stem portion. Alternatively, it may beformed with a solid annular web which completely surrounds it andextends to the walls of the housing. In the present invention, thenozzle block 16 is supported on a plurality, and preferably four, spacedribs 19 as seen in FIG. 3. The four ribs 19 provide more stable supportfor the nozzle block 16 than a single support stem and the gaps betweenthe ribs 19 allow for air flow through the body portion and into thespacer member which leads to improved operation of the device 10.Furthermore, the four rib configuration eliminates sink marks and voidswhich tend to be stem to support the nozzle block. These faults candistort the nozzle block and the nozzle aim. During production, the fourrib configuration also makes for a simpler and more efficient mouldcavity.

As shown, the four ribs 19 are preferably not equally spaced but arepositioned symmetrically in two opposed pairs such that each rib joinsthe housing wall adjacent one of the cantilever arms 20 which aredescribed further below.

At its proximal end 11 a, the housing 11 is formed integrally with twocantilever arms 20 which are diametrically opposed to one another. Eacharm 20 has an outwardly projecting trunnion 21 formed at its free end.

At the distal end of the spacer member 13, there are formed a pair ofdiametrically opposed ears 22 which extend rearwardly, each having akeyhole aperture 23 therethrough.

In the inoperative position of the device 10, when the housing 11 isreceived within the spacer member 13, the cantilever arms 20 are forcedto flex slightly inwardly and the trunnions 21 are slidable againstopposite sides of the elliptical interior surface of the spacer member13. As the housing 11 is withdrawn from this spacer member 13 thetrunnions 21 slide along the walls until the cantilever arms 20 are ableto relax outwardly so that the trunnions 21 engage in the keyholeapertures 23. The housing 11 may now be pivoted relative to the spacermember about an axis defined by the trunnions 21 and perpendicular tothe longitudinal axis of the housing 11 and the spacer member 13.

In order to return the device to the inoperative condition thecantilever arms 20 are flexed inwardly sufficiently to disengage thetrunnions 21 from the apertures 23. The housing 11 can now be slid oncemore into the spacer member 13 with the trunnions 21 sliding along theside walls.

Thus, all the components of the pivot arrangement are formed integrallywith either the housing or the spacer member, reducing the complexityand hence the cost of the inhaler. Actuation of the device to movebetween the operative and inoperative positions is also simplified.

As mentioned above, the spacer member 13 is provided with an outlet 15through which a user inhales the medicament.

As best seen in FIG. 3, the proximal end 11 a of the housing 11 isformed with an extension piece 24 which extends through less than halfof the circumference of the housing 11 and which projects proximally ofthe cantilever arms 20. The extension piece 24 is shaped so as to fitsnugly into the outlet 15 defined by the mouthpiece member 14 so that inthe inoperative condition, the extension piece 24 acts as a closuremember for the outlet 15 to prevent the ingress of dirt or othercontaminants.

Thus, the device is integrally formed with a closure member and there isno need for a separate cap or cover as in the prior art which could belost or even inhaled by a user who had inadvertently left the cap on theinhaler. The number of parts to be produced is also reduced, loweringcost and simplifying manufacture of the device.

A second embodiment of inhalation device in accordance with the presentinvention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 8. Manyaspects of the second embodiment are the same as those in the firstembodiment and thus like reference numerals have been used in thedrawings to indicate like parts.

The inhalation device 40 in accordance with the second embodiment onceagain comprises a tubular housing 11 of elliptical cross-section forreceiving a container of medicament and being pivotally connected to aspacer member 13 of larger elliptical cross-section.

An approximately semi-circular cut-out 41 is provided on each side ofthe distal end 11 b of the housing 11 to enable a user to depress thecontainer of medicament 12 which is within the housing in order todispense the medicament or to enable the user to grasp the container towithdraw it from the housing 11 when it needs to be replaced.

In addition, at the distal end of the housing 11 there is a small thumbtab 42 which is provided to help the user to withdraw the housing 11from the spacer member 13.

In the second embodiment, the retaining mechanism which holds thehousing 11 and spacer member 13 in the operative position comprises aplurality of inwardly extending feet 43 formed at the distal end 13 b ofthe spacer 13 as shown in FIG. 7. A plurality of corresponding outwardlyextending feet 44 are formed on the end face 45 of the extension piece24 provided at the proximal end of the housing 11. When the housing 11is rotated relative to the spacer member 13, the projecting feet 43 and44 are brought into frictional engagement with each other so as toretain the housing and the spacer member in the operative position byinterference with one another. Preferably, the projecting feet 44 formedon the housing 11 have a curved profile and two or more may be providedwith a stepped portion 46. As the housing 11 is rotated towards theoperative position, the projecting feet 43 and 44 are gradually broughtinto closer frictional engagement and eventually snap over the steppedportion 46 into the final operative position.

In the second embodiment, in order to provide pivotal engagement betweenthe housing 11 and the spacer member 13, the spacer member 13 isprovided with a pair of opposed inwardly projecting trunnions 47 at itsdistal end 13 b (only one of which is visible in FIG. 7). A pair ofopposed axially extending slots 48 are formed in the outer surface ofthe housing 11 to receive the trunnions 47. Thus, in the inoperativeposition, the housing 11 is located within the spacer member 13 in thesame manner as in the first embodiment.

To reach the operative position, the housing 11 is withdrawn from thespacer member 13 with each trunnion 47 running in a respective slot 48.In the fully retracted position, the trunnions 47 are located at theblind end of each slot 48 at the proximal end 11 a of the housing 11 andthe housing 11 may then be pivoted with respect to the spacer member 13about an axis defined by the trunnions 47.

Finally, in FIG. 8 it can be seen that the inner surface of the housing11 is provided with a number of inwardly projecting ribs 49 which serveto locate the medicament container 12 centrally within the housing 11 sothat the dispensing member 12 a will easily locate into the nozzle block16. It will be apparent that such ribs together with other features suchas the cutouts 41, thumb tab 42 and inter-engaging feet 43 and 44although described with reference to the second embodiment are equallyapplicable to the first embodiment in addition to or instead of thecorresponding features of the first embodiment.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the present inventionprovides an improved inhalation device with fewer parts which is easierto make and assemble and which provides improved operation in use.

What is claimed is:
 1. An inhalation device for use with an aerosolcontainer, the device comprising a housing for receiving an aerosolcontainer and a spacer member defining an outlet through which a usercan inhale, the housing and the spacer member being attached together soas to be movable with respect to each other between an inoperativeposition in which the housing is received within the spacer member andan operative position in which the hosing is withdrawn from the spacermember and oriented at a substantial angle thereto, the device furthercomprising a dispensing member for receiving material to be dispensedfrom said container and delivering it into said spacer member, whereinthe spacer member further comprises a forwardly extending mouthpiecemember defining the outlet and characterized in that a proximal end ofthe housing further comprises a projection shaped so as to be receivedby said mouthpiece member in the inoperative condition whereby theprojection acts as a closure member to close the outlet.
 2. Aninhalation device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the projection andspacer member are adapted to co-operate with one another in theoperative condition in order to retain the housing at a predeterminedangle relative to the spacer member.
 3. An inhalation device as claimedin claim 2, wherein the projection and spacer member are provided withco-operating surfaces which are brought into frictional engagement asthe device is moved from the inoperative to the operative position. 4.An inhalation device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the dispensingmember is located in said housing and supported spaced from the wallsthereof by a plurality of spaced ribs.
 5. An inhalation device asclaimed in claim 4, wherein the plurality of ribs are not equallyspaced.
 6. An inhalation device as claimed in claim 4, wherein there arefour ribs.
 7. An inhalation device as claimed in claim 6, wherein thefour ribs are arranged symmetrically in two pairs.